Chuck Schumer: ‘Gang of 8’ close to immigration deal

With activists and lawmakers anxious to see an immigration bill, Sen. Chuck Schumer and other members of the Gang of Eight seemed optimistic on Thursday that a deal was within reach.

The New York Democrat told Hispanic media outlets Thursday he was confident a deal would be reached in the days ahead, although the group is unlikely to be unveiled before the end of the Easter recess.

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“About 90 percent of the issues, including the path to citizenship, are settled,” Schumer said, adding that the group was meeting “hours” a day, and he was putting “more time into this than any other single issue.”

He expects the Senate Judiciary Committee to take up the bill in April before floor debate in the late spring or early summer.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have said a deal needs to happen quickly so a bill can be introduced and worked through committee. The fear is that if legislation drags on for too long, politicians will lose their nerve and the prospect of reelection will take precedence over getting something done.

On Thursday, dozens of pro-immigration protesters swarmed Schumer’s office — and five were arrested — as they called for a bill.

And the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, a coalition of immigration activists, announced on Thursday they’d spend the Easter recess targeting lawmakers and urging them to move on legislation. They planned events in 10 states on Friday.

Schumer said he did not know there were protesters in his office but reiterated to reporters that the Senate group was “very close” to an agreement.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) also expressed frustration at hearing on Wednesday that a bill hadn’t been introduced yet, and he wouldn’t be able to hold a markup until May at the earliest. He noted that the senators in the Gang of Eight had given themselves an original deadline of early March, and he’s urged President Barack Obama “for months” to introduce a bill.

“I understand he has delayed releasing it at the request of a few senators who are engaged in secret, closed-door discussions on their own proposal and who committed to completing it by the beginning of March. That deadline and others have come and gone,” Leahy said.